Antioxidant Supplements Tied to Death Risk

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/antioxidant-supplements-tied-to-death/20070227174509990001?cid=2194

Last semester, we learned about free radicals. Antioxidants (such as Beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E) are believed to fight these free radicals, which are atoms formed in such a way that they can cause cell damage and possibly lead to cancer. The article contradicts the negative beliefs associated with free radicals. Instead, it says that with increased synthetic supplemental antioxidants (and therefore decreased free radicals), we "interfere with some essential defensive mechanisms." This lack of free radicals was determined to cause a five percent (a conservative estimate) higher risk of mortality than those not given supplements.
The study was a review of 68 studies that looked at nearly a quarter-million people, but it has a lot of critics who say that it is flawed. The opponents argue that the conclusions are based largely on studies of people who were already chronically ill before they were treated with the supplements. I found this article interesting because I like to explore controversial subjects and make my own judgments about them. I found this especially intriguing because we had focused so much on free radicals last semester, and the study directly contradicts what we learned. However, I think more research needs to be done to make a sound decision about the subject. If antioxidants actually do increase the likelihood of death, then something needs to be done quickly because 10 percent to 20 percent of adults in North America and Europe -- up to 160 million people -- may consume the supplements involved.